1 CHRONICLES LESSON 8
We will begin this lesson in I Chronicles 6:1 "The sons of Levi;
Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."
The name "Levi" means joined. Levi was the third son of Jacob and
Leah. He is the father of the Levitical tribe, that would be separated
out for service to the LORD. Gershon is sometimes called Gershom. He
was the founder of the Gershonites. Levi had a daughter named Jochebed
who was mother of Moses, Miriam, and Aaron. Kohath was the father of
Amram who was the father of Moses. Amram was the nephew of Jochebed,
whom he married. Kohath founded the Kohathites. Merari was the founder
of the Merarites. We must take special note of the Levites, because
they will be called to the service of the LORD.
I Chronicles 6:2 "And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and
Hebron, and Uzziel."
Kohath, it seemed, was born before the twelve sons of Jacob went
into Egypt. He was about twenty years younger than Joseph. Later on
the Kohathites will be called to carry the ark and the sacred vessels.
His sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Amram was the most
prominent of the sons, because of his children, Moses, Aaron, and
Miriam. Izhar was the father of the Izharites. Hebron was father of
the Hebronites. Uzziel is best known as being Aaron's uncle. He
founded the Uzzielites.
I Chronicles 6:3 "And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses,
and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and
Ithamar."
Aaron, Moses, and Miriam were Levites on their mother's side and
on their father's side. Aaron was the first high priest in the
tabernacle. His sons were anointed as priests to work in the
tabernacle. Nadab and Abihu carried strange fire into the tabernacle,
and the fire of God killed them. The strange fire, many believe, was
the fact they were intoxicated while serving in the tabernacle.
Eleazer became high priest after Aaron, because his two older brothers
were killed by God. Ithamar was in charge of the curtains, the
hangings, pillars, cords, and boards. He actually oversaw the moving
of the tabernacle from place to place. The priesthood had to come
through Eleazar and Ithamar, because Nadab and Abihu had no
descendents.
I Chronicles 6:4 "Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat
Abishua,"
Eleazar's wife's father's name was Putiel. Phinehas was high
priest for 19 years. Phinehas' action pertaining to the revolting sins
of the people stayed the plague, and God promised him the priesthood
would remain in his family forever. He ran a javelin through Cozbi
and Zimri to stay the plague. Abishua became the fourth high priest in
his father's stead.
I Chronicles 6:5 "And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,"
I Chronicles 6:6 "And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat
Meraioth," I Chronicles 6:7 "Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat
Ahitub,"
All of the people listed in the verses above, were descended from
Aaron through Eleazar and Phinehas. After Uzzi, the position of high
priest would go to Eli of the descendants of Ithamar. It is not
explained how this came about.
I Chronicles 6:8 "And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat
Ahimaaz,"
There are two Ahitubs mentioned. One is in the lineage of
Ithamar, and one in the lineage of Eleazar. I am not sure that this is
not in some way speaking of the same person. Zadok seemed to be
connected in both lineages, as well.
I Chronicles 6:9 "And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat
Johanan,"
Ahimaaz seemed to, also, be connected with both lines. Azariah is
in the lineage from Eleazar. Johanan, also, is in the lineage of
Eleazar.
I Chronicles 6:10 "And Johanan begat Azariah, (he [it is] that
executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in
Jerusalem:)"
Johanan and Azariah were priests during the reigns of Abijah and
Asa. "Johanan" means God is gracious.
I Chronicles 6:11 "And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat
Ahitub,"
Amariah was high priest in the reign of Jehoshaphat. We discussed
that Ahitub seemed to be in two lineages. In this case, it seems to be
speaking of the lineage through Eleazar.
I Chronicles 6:12 "And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat
Shallum,"
There seem to be several people mentioned between Zadok and
Shallum. Zadok is his great-great-grandfather.
I Chronicles 6:13 "And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat
Azariah,"
Hilkiah and Azariah were popular names, and given several times
in these lineages. The Hilkiah, mentioned here, was high priest in the
time of Josiah.
I Chronicles 6:14 "And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat
Jehozadak," I Chronicles 6:15 "And Jehozadak went [into captivity],
when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of
Nebuchadnezzar."
Seraiah, here, was high priest during the reign of Zedekiah.
"Seraiah" means Jehovah has prevailed. He was sent as a prisoner to
Nebuchadnezzar, who killed him. Jehozadak was carried to Babylon
prisoner. It is not known whether he ever acted as high priest, or
not. He, probably, died in Babylon. Joshua is mentioned in Haggai as
the high priest after the exile.
I Chronicles 6:16 "The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and
Merari."
This is repeating the first verse of this lesson. Gershom,
Kohath, and Merari were the beginning of the three divisions of the
Levitical tribe. All are to serve the LORD in some capacity.
I Chronicles 6:17 "And these [be] the names of the sons of
Gershom; Libni, and Shimei." I Chronicles 6:18 "And the sons of
Kohath [were], Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel." I Chronicles
6:19 "The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these [are] the
families of the Levites according to their fathers."
In the lesson, we have been primarily dealing with the
descendents of Kohath, who were the priests and high priests. Merari
was, probably, born just before the migration of Jacob's family to
Egypt. He was the head of the third division of the Levites.
I Chronicles 6:20 "Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son,
Zimmah his son," I Chronicles 6:21 "Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah
his son, Jeaterai his son."
This goes back to pick up the lineage of Gershom. Another name
for Libni is Laadan. He was father of the Libnites. His brother was
Shimi, the father of the Shimites. Zimmah is, probably, the same as
Shimei. Joah, probably, is the one who assisted Hezekiah in the
restoration of the temple worship. He is called Ethan in verse 42.
Iddo is, also, called Adaiah. "Zerah" means dawning, rising, or
shining. Jeaterai is the same as Ethni.
I Chronicles 6:22 "The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah
his son, Assir his son,"
Amminidab is not mentioned in the list of the four sons of Kohath
earlier in this lesson. Many scholars believe that Amminidab is the
same as Izhar. Korah is, probably, the same one that was with Dathan
and Abiram against Moses, because he was not called to the priesthood.
"Assir" means prisoner. Nothing else is known of him.
I Chronicles 6:23 "Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and
Assir his son,"
In Exodus, the three men mentioned, in the verse above, are
brothers. In this verse, it appears they are son, grandson, and great-
grandson of the first Assir.
I Chronicles 6:24 "Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son,
and Shaul his son." I Chronicles 6:25 "And the sons of Elkanah;
Amasai, and Ahimoth." I Chronicles 6:26 "[As for] Elkanah: the sons of
Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son," I Chronicles 6:27 "Eliab
his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son." I Chronicles 6:28 "And the
sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah."
Tahath was a Koathite. His descendants would lead to Samuel.
Uriel and Zephaniah seem to be the same person. Uzziah was born about
1300 B.C. Shaul was the founder of the Shaulites. There is very little
known of the rest of these all the way to Samuel. This Samuel is the
son of Hannah. She prayed for a son, and loaned him to the LORD all
the days of his life. Eli raised him in the service of the LORD. We
read in 1 Samuel chapter 8 verses 1 and 2, that Samuel's first son was
named Joel. It appears, then, that Joel and Vashni are the same
person. "Vashni" means strong. "Joel" means Jehovah is God. One of
the names could have been a title. Verse 1 of 1 Samuel chapter 8 says,
that Samuel made his sons judges. They were evil judges, and God gave
the people king Saul to judge them, instead of judges.
I Chronicles 6:29 "The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son,
Shimei his son, Uzza his son," I Chronicles 6:30 "Shimea his son,
Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son."
Merari's son, Mushi, is not mentioned here. Those listed above
are of his son, Merari. In verses 44 through 47, we will read of them.
I Chronicles 6:31 "And these [are they] whom David set over the
service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had
rest." I Chronicles 6:32 "And they ministered before the dwelling
place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until
Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and [then] they
waited on their office according to their order."
This answers the question of whether we should have a choir in
our churches, or not. We see that in the Levitical tribe {ministers in
the things of the LORD}, there were set aside people who ministered in
song. I have always believed that really beautiful hymns prepare the
soul to receive the message of the preacher. This singing was praise
unto the LORD for the presence of the LORD. God inhabits the praises
of His people.
I Chronicles 6:33 "And these [are] they that waited with their
children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of
Joel, the son of Shemuel," I Chronicles 6:34 "The son of Elkanah, the
son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah," I Chronicles 6:35
"The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of
Amasai," I Chronicles 6:36 "The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the
son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah," I Chronicles 6:37 "The son of
Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,"
I Chronicles 6:38 "The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of
Levi, the son of Israel."
Let me stop for a moment here in the giving of these names, and
say that their ministry in the church was in song and music. Some
played the instruments and some sang. We should enter God's house with
thanksgiving in our hearts. Notice, that the music was their call from
God. The most welcome sound coming from our churches, as we enter the
door, should be soft, spiritual music.
I Chronicles 6:39 "And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right
hand, [even] Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,"
I Chronicles 6:40 "The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of
Malchiah," I Chronicles 6:41 "The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the
son of Adaiah," I Chronicles 6:42 "The son of Ethan, the son of
Zimmah, the son of Shimei," I Chronicles 6:43 "The son of Jahath, the
son of Gershom, the son of Levi." I Chronicles 6:44 "And their
brethren the sons of Merari [stood] on the left hand: Ethan the son of
Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch," I Chronicles 6:45 "The
son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,"
I Chronicles 6:46 "The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of
Shamer," I Chronicles 6:47 "The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the
son of Merari, the son of Levi."
In all of these names of people involved in the music and the
singing in the church, we find many of the names that are mentioned in
the Psalms of David. David addressed many of his Psalms to these very
singers. In the next lesson, we will deal with the family of the
priests. God calls each person to minister in his own calling. We must
bear in mind that all of the Levites served God in some capacity.
Each had their own expertise. It seemed, that in particular, the
family of Merari was musically inclined.
1 Chronicles 8 Questions
1. Who were the sons of Levi?
2. What does "Levi" mean?
3. Who was the mother of Moses?
4. Who was the father of Moses?
5. What relation was Moses's father to Moses' mother, besides being
husband and wife?
6. Who were the sons of Kohath?
7. What will be the service of the Kohathites to the LORD?
8. Who were the children of Amram?
9. Who was the first high priest in the tabernacle?
10. What happened to Nadab and Abihu?
11. Who became high priest after Aaron?
12. Who was the son of Eleazar?
13. How long was he high priest?
14. What is Phinehas remembered for, especially?
15. After Uzzi, who would become high priest?
16. Who was he descended from?
17. Hilkiah was high priest in the time of _________.
18. What happened to Seraiah?
19. What happened to Jehozadak?
20. What was the call of the LORD on the descendents of Kokath?
21. Another name for Libni is _______.
22. Who assisted Hezekiah in restoring worship in the temple?
23. What do many scholars belive about Amminidab?
24. Why did Korah join with Dathan and Abiram against Moses?
25. Tahath's descendents led to _________.
26. Who was Samuel?
27. Who seems to be the same person as Vashni?
28. What does "Vashni" mean?
29. What does "Joel" mean?
30. What kind of sons were Samuel's?
31. Which Scriptures answer the question of whether there should be a
choir in the church, or not?
32. What has the author always believed about beautiful hymns?
33. We should enter God's house with ___________ in our heart.
34. Where else, in the Bible, are these singers' names mentioned?
Home